Army, PNP put up 24/7 checkpoitnt in Maguindanao-Sultan Kudarat border

ESPERANZA, Sultan Kudarat -- Joint police and military authorities here have taken steps to prevent transport of improvised bombs, unlicensed guns and illegal drugs by putting up 24/7 Army-police checkpoints along Sultan Kudarat-Maguindanao highway. Chief Inspector Bryan Bernardino, Esperanza town police chief and 1Lt. Jano Reyes, commanding officer of 57th Infantry Battalion Alpha Company, led the inspection of all types of vehicles on rotation basis to ensure 24/7 checkpoint operation. The checkpoint was put up in Barnagay Saliao, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat. (This is) in response to the directive of the CPNP to conduct 24/7 checkpoint to all strategic areas to prevent transport of Imrpovised bombs, illegal drugs, Bernardino said in a statement. The 24/7 checkpoint operation also aims to monitor the movement of Private Armed Groups (PAGs), criminal groups, gun for hire personalities as well as terrorist plan of Abu Sayyaf Group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and kidnap for ransom gangs in the borders of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat. Esperanza is the last town of Sultan Kudarat in the borders with Maguindanao where suspected bombers, illegal drug pushers and kidnap for ransom gangs emanate. On Thursday, residents alerted the police about the presence of suspicious bag left unattended in front of a roadside restaurant. A check by police bomb experts showed the bag was not a bomb. sand//scontent.fmnl4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14485044_526688067525732_8643396371283435350_n.jpg?oh=db12417f94241577e138f14b5cfb1d06:ampoe=587A9710